Sunday, March 26, 2006

"...nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book"

The other night, I understood (for myself) the last part of this quote from Jospeh Smith about the Book of Mormon:

"I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book."

especially in light of the Bible. In some ways the Book of Mormon doesn't do as well as the Bible, such as in the life of Christ and his actions and words.

But then I thought about this:How many instances in the Bible do you see one seeking revelation? And an answer from God, clearly connected to it? And the need for the Spirit?

I have found very few, relatively speaking. I see lots of one or the other, but very few connected, together. Yet, from Lehi's first vision to Moroni's questions and answers, the Book of Mormon is full of instances where a person seeks God, and finds Him; seeks His answers, and gets them; has a problem, and God helps with the solution--and the processes and connections are shown, and connected.

If we were to have personal revelation, through seeking God by prayer and having the Spirit, and reading and understanding the scriptures, wouldn't we be "nearer to God"? And which book, even of all holy books, teaches, supports, and urges this more than any other? The Book of Mormon.